So once you have the right group of girls in place, the next item to check off your list is the itinerary. Regardless of where you end up: beach, mountain or city, you have to make time for the following activities:

1.Palancing aka dancing the night away

I hope you saved space for the right shoes because a night of dancing should always be on the program! I love to visit places where my girls and I can not only wine the night away, but can learn how to tango from the locals or even skelewu – can I get a what what from my West Africans?! Wherever you land, my suggestion is that you and your girls ensure that you dance. Be silly, laugh at each other and let the girl who is still working on walking away from her ‘clubbing’ days let loose on the dance floor. After all, this is what the vacation is for! #dancethenightaway

2.The nothing dayI’m a huge proponent of carving out at least one day where absolutely nothing gets done. I mean no schedules, and definitely no expectations for a busy day out. I suggest ensuring that you have a day where your goal is to laugh, eat and breathe. Many times we are so busy being busy that we don’t get the chance to just stop. A vacation should give you this opportunity and you should take this time seriously. No phones – unless you are instagramming a swim suit! I want to laugh with my girls and have fun watching strangers walk by. Get to know trivial information about your friends – which OPI nail color is their favorite? Why do you hate Edible Arrangements so much? This is light conversation that you normally would be too busy to have in your heavily scheduled life. Take advantage of the nothing day and as we say in French – réspire!

3.A gastronomic experience I can’t tell you how much what type of food available in a place determines where I vacation. Yup I’m definitely #teamgreedy. Are you? I seriously cannot tell you how much influence the type of food available at a vacation spot dictates my experience. So yeah, I research if one of the Top Chef contestants has a restaurant where I am headed. Don’t you? My dedication to the quality of food is real. Some of my friends don’t mind at all but this missy right here will spend a pretty penny for a medium-rare filet mignon any day – especially whilst on vacation. I also suggest ordering something off the ‘local’ menu if not in your country of origin. Try the plantains, the fufu or even the escargot and let your palate be pleasantly surprised.

4.A daring featIf possible, this is something the entire group should engage in. There is something amazing about getting out of your comfort zone with someone close to you. You see it all the time on The Bachelor right? They go skydiving together and all of a sudden there is a connection created between them right? But then again, the bachelor probably isn’t the best example to use! Nevertheless, weaving in zip lining, swimming with dolphins, off-roading or even the aforementioned skydiving will bring the group closer. Every girls’ trip should factor in an opportunity for you as a group to get uncomfortable together and create an opportunity not only for a great story but also a chance to develop new levels in your friendships.

5.The Debrief

More than anything I hope that you taking this trip as girlfriends is to bond while you relax. I believe that it is very important to have a chance to reflect on your friendships. My preference is to save the last night of your trip – preferably at dinner – to reflect on how your friendships are growing and changing. I like starting off with a reflection of how the trip turned out getting into the highs and lows. Then it’s important to evaluate how far friendships have come. Where you met, how long you’ve known each other. If you travel with your close friends, I suggest being vulnerable. This should be a time where you can laugh at how long you have held onto bad boyfriends and cry about how tough it was to let go of these same douchebags. If you are with your married friends, a time to reflect on the joys and struggles of married life! Be open, be receptive and get ready to have your makeup run. This is how to round off an amazing trip.